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District lays off 9 teachers; leaves other positions vacant

The Snoqualmie Valley School District has laid off 9 teachers as part of cutting nearly $4.1 million from the district's general budget. The lay offs cut the equivalent of 8 full-time positions. The district has eliminated another 11.5 full-time positions by not filling vacancies created by retiring teachers and teachers on leave.

None of the cuts will affect which programs and subjects are offered to students, but they will increase class sizes in the district by one student per class, according to district spokeswoman Carolyn Malcolm.

The staff cuts included teachers and librarians.

District officials would not specify where teachers have been cut, but did say that teachers would be transferred between schools to preserve existing programs and subjects, if needed.

The district won't know if it needs to transfer any teachers until after it receives its final budget from the state. Governor Christine Gregoire has not signed the budget yet.

The district also plans to cut the equivalent of 15 full-time classified employees. It had to notify teachers by May 15, as set by its collective bargaining agreement with the teachers union.

The district continues work on a plan for converting middle school sports from interscholastic competition to an intramural format. The change will save an estimated $300,000.

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